Compare towns
Eliot vs Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Kennebunk
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Eliot | Hampstead | Hooksett | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
9,102 |
15,057Highest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kennebunk and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Kennebunk are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8k 34% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,999 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Eliot and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #19 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 11.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.